AccorHotels is pleased to announce a new-build 60-room apartment hotel The Sebel Wellington Lower Hutt is set to commence construction in January 2016.

The new 4.5 star apartment-style hotel will overlook the Hutt River on the eastern shores of Wellington Harbour, a short distance from Wellington International Airport. Estimated to cost $12m, The Sebel Lower Hutt will join the AccorHotels network under a new franchise agreement with USAR Commercial Assets Limited (USAR).

To be built in partnership with Hutt City Council’s project for the New Civic Centre – including a new Events Centre adjoining the City’s historic Town Hall, the hotel will provide a modern and convenient place for business and leisure visitors to stay while attending conferences, exhibitions or events held at the Town Hall facility.

Chris Sedgwick, Senior Vice President for AccorHotels New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia, said: “This is a significant development for Lower Hutt and we are delighted to be working with USAR Commercial Assets Limited Properties Limited and The Hutt City Council to provide more places to meet, stay and dine in the area.”

“This will be our third The Sebel property in New Zealand and we are pleased to have the opportunity to strengthen the presence of our premium apartment brand in the region.”

The new conference event space is expected to boost the vibrancy of the central Hutt area and drive the local economy. With the overall development expected to create 90 associated jobs with approximately 20 of these in the hotel when it opens in November 2016.

Complete with a restaurant and bar, the new hotel will be purpose built to meet The Sebel brand standards, with warm, stylish and homely furnishings to make guests feel welcome as soon as they arrive in The Sebel lounge.

Currently AccorHotels has two The Sebel properties in New Zealand including The Sebel Auckland Viaduct Harbour, located directly on the picturesque Viaduct Harbour, the gateway to exploring New Zealand’s waterways and The Sebel Quay West Auckland right in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, close to the best shopping and dining on offer.

The latest new-build Sebel property was The Sebel Xi Ning in June 2015, the brands first foray into China and Asia. Closer to home, two hotels, The Sebel Pelican Waters and The Sebel South Brisbane were rebranded to The Sebel earlier this year.